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Blaney continues to fight for housing

North Island-Powell River NDP MP Rachel Blaney says the housing issue across Canada is becoming no less than a crisis. On a regular basis, her office deals with people struggling to find and keep housing. Many of them have professional careers. Some are pensioners with limited income.
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North Island-Powell River NDP MP Rachel Blaney says the housing issue across Canada is becoming no less than a crisis. On a regular basis, her office deals with people struggling to find and keep housing. Many of them have professional careers. Some are pensioners with limited income.

“It’s a broad range,” Blaney said during an Oct. 5 media teleconference. “And what’s terrifying for me is how broad the range is increasing in terms of people who are struggling to find and maintain housing.”

She applauds the Province of B.C. for investing money towards modular housing for the homeless, and for affordable rental housing. Government has committed $66 million towards 600 modular housing units in Vancouver, staffed 24/7 and will include services to help people rebuild their lives. The Province plans to construct 2,000 modular units over two years throughout B.C. by working in partnership with communities. The first 1,000 units are expected to be operating early next year.

“In terms of what the province is doing, I think that’s a great step in the right direction,” Blaney said. “We know that we need action and we need it very quickly.”

As for the federal government, Blaney has heard there will be an announcement concerning a National Housing Strategy in November.

“We’ve been waiting for this announcement for close to two years. They say they’re going to invest $11 billion into housing, but when you look at the budget, the majority of the money is not going to land in the communities until after the next election, and that concerns me greatly. The housing crisis is happening today. The funding model they’re looking at is not going to address that issue, especially in communities like ours where housing is such a big issue and such a concern. We’re going to feel this, and the pressure is only going to increase.”

Blaney pledges to continue work on the issue — and to hammer home the fact that housing challenges are not contained to urban areas.

“So understanding what regions need and working collaboratively — federally, provincially and municipally — just makes sense.”

Blaney, who serves as the Critic for Seniors, is also part of a committee that is studying a National Seniors Strategy.

“We’ve had several witnesses in this week, including Isobel Mackenzie, the BC seniors advocate. We’re having a good learning opportunity in hearing from witnesses across Canada. All of the witnesses at this point have said very clearly, ‘We need a National Seniors Strategy.’

“In my opinion, and in the opinion of so many experts we heard from, a National Seniors Strategy will fill in the huge gaps that so many seniors are falling through. Having all levels of government and stakeholders working together to address these fundamental issues will provide support for Canadians.”